County could take over state park by Lake Goodwin

Published 10:53 pm Tuesday, March 3, 2009

The state is offering to give a popular state park along the shores of Lake Goodwin to the county.

Snohomish County Concilman John Koster thinks it would be silly to pass up the opportunity to bring Wenberg State Park under the county’s control at no cost and wants to know what the public thinks.

Other councilmen expressed reservations about the possible costs, but Koster figures the park might even earn money some day.

“I think this is one of the jewels of North County,” Koster said. “If the state decides to close it and the county doesn’t take it over, it’ll be shut.”

With camping, fishing and a boat launch, the 46-acre property south of Stanwood and northwest of Marysville attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

The state is facing an $8 billion budget deficit. So the state parks department has put Wenberg and 12 other parks on the chopping block. The only other state park in Snohomish County, Wallace Falls State Park outside Gold Bar, is not on the current closure list.

A final decision isn’t expected before April. When a park is closed, the state will shut the gates and post a sign about the closure. Staff leaves, returning for occasional patrols. The parks department hopes to honor any existing reservations, which could push some closure dates back to Sept. 15.

Few people showed up at a meeting to discuss the park’s future last week at Warm Beach Conference Center.

Koster said a lack of publicity, not a lack of interest, was to blame for the poor turnout. The park will be part of the discussion at another meeting held in Tumwater on Thursday afternoon.

If the county wants Wenberg, the state would be willing to transfer it free, state parks spokeswoman Virginia Painter said.

The state says it spends about $392,000 to operate Wenberg every two years, or $682,000 in operating costs minus $290,000 in revenue the park brings in. Depending on how the park is run, costs for the county could be less.

County parks staff expect to have a summary ready in a few weeks.

Despite the county’s own budget concerns, Koster believes Wenberg is too good an opportunity to pass up. To help recoup some costs, the county could charge day-use fees.

Other council members said they are inclined to agree with a takeover, but only if the county can afford it.

“These are difficult financial times, so we would have to do a financial analysis, although I do think that Wenberg could be a money-maker,” Councilman Brian Sullivan said. “I don’t want to see a drain from the general fund to do it because obviously my priorities are police and courts and prosecution.”

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com.

If you’d like to comment on the future of Wenberg State Park:

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will take comments after 1 p.m. Thursday during a meeting at 1111 Israel Road SW in Tumwater. A full agenda is at www.parks.wa.gov/commtg.asp.

Submit your views to the state parks department by e-mail at pao@parks.wa.gov or by mail to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, P.O. Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504-2650.